It’s no secret that Chicago’s small companies confronted various hurdles all through the pandemic. Some corporations needed to shut their doorways for excellent whilst others like Torres Omar Jewelers in Logan Sq. discovered techniques to evolve.
The store, identified for its record of famous person purchasers, positioned particular consideration to its on-line trade by way of construction out its e-commerce website. And in June, the corporate debuted a Torres Omar-branded line of jewellery that incorporates Italian Miami Cuban chains, pendants, bracelets and rings. Costs vary from $100 as much as $1000 and may also be present in retailer and on its web page.
In relation to jewellery, few names are as relied on and revered in Chicago as Torres Omar Jewelers. The family-owned trade additionally celebrated its forty third anniversary, and adapting to the days has performed a important position in its luck, together with all through the pandemic.
“Going thru COVID was once eye-opening,” Advertising and marketing Director Joey Torres stated. “It was once a blessing in cover as a result of we actually anchored down and took our e-commerce trade actually severely. So we had been ready to get arranged and generate earnings thru there. We simply brainstormed as a kinfolk to take a look at to determine alternative ways to make it occur.”
In 1980, Jose and Maria Torres opened Torres Jewelers in Lakeview after immigrating to Chicago from Guanajuato, Mexico. In 1994, the couple opened a 2nd retailer in Logan Sq., 2624 N. Milwaukee Ave., and stored its earlier identify, which was once Omar Jewelers. It wasn’t till 2008 once they merged the 2 names in combination to Torres Omar Jewelers and passed over the reins to their son, Jose Torres Jr.
Jose Torres Jr.’s spouse, Norma, married into the kinfolk trade in 1989. She stated her choice to paintings in the back of the scenes whilst Jose stayed because the face of the trade was once influenced by way of their kids. It was once extra versatile for her to stability paintings and being a mother.
“I imply truthfully as a mother, it’s like a dream come true to have your children with you the entire time. Our youngsters graduated school and had been doing really well of their careers however one at a time, they began being within the trade,” Norma Torres stated.
“This block proper right here on Milwaukee used to have like seven jewellery shops, and in the end they’ve all closed as a result of they didn’t stay alongside of the time. We had been ready to try this since the new era got here into the trade and made us step as much as the following degree and keep in track with the entirety.”
Max Mendoza polishes a customized jewellery piece on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023 at Torres Omar Jewelers in Logan Sq..
Norma and Jose Torres Jr. stated their kids — Joey, Cynthia and Crystal — have each and every introduced one thing distinctive to the kinfolk trade, whether or not it’s rising the corporate’s social media presence or serving to it interact with the group. For instance, Torres Omar Jewelers sponsors little league baseball groups and native occasions in addition to awards scholarships to undocumented scholars pursuing upper training.
In case you spend an afternoon at Torres Omar, you’ll be expecting to peer everybody from {couples} on the lookout for engagement rings to native musicians or artists selecting up chains. Notable purchasers come with boxing legend Julio César Chavez, Chicago streetwear dressmaker Joe Freshgoods and Grammy-winning artist The Weeknd.
“We have now consumers now that had been the youngsters and grandchildren of members of the family that used to shop for from us,” Torres Jr. stated. “We’re blessed since the group is the person who has stored us going for this lengthy.”
The shop celebrated its anniversary in June by way of website hosting an intimate tournament at Floreria L. a. Orquidea in Little Village. It was once there that they unveiled their new line and its spring summer time assortment to the general public.
“Once we’ve had our anniversary occasions up to now, we in most cases do them within the West Loop or downtown,” Torres Jr. stated. “Some of the concepts I had despite the fact that was once to get again to our roots and feature our forty third anniversary in Little Village to turn that there’s now not most effective dangerous information there.”
When requested what he hopes folks will be mindful from Torres Omar’s legacy, he stored it easy.
“Our legacy is set being kinfolk. It’s about appearing love. It’s about serving to folks, and it’s about proceeding to be a part of the group.”
